What The Papers Say - 5 March

The views on this page are taken from the local and national media and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton.

Seamus Coleman hopes his influential partnership with Kevin Mirallas can prosper without being marred by injuries as Everton FC bid to end the season in style.

The right-sided duo were involved in all three of the Blues goals during Saturday's 3-1 win over Reading, and created most of their side's chances as the Royals focused their efforts on stopping Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar on the left.

David Moyes hopes having a potent combination down both flanks can be the key to propelling his team into the European qualifying spots, and Coleman is just hoping they manage to avoid the injuries which have restricted both of them this term.

The 24-year-old said: "Kevin's got loads of ability, but a bit like myself he's been in and out with injuries this season.

"He's been in the team while I've been out and we've not always been able to work together but he's a top player.

"You can give him the ball and he'll make things happen. Naisy (Steven Naismith) as well is someone who you know will fill in for you when you overlap. We've got some good players and need to kick on from here."

Coleman has been in fine form during Everton's last three games, and has his sights set on helping the Blues capitalise on their run of five home fixtures.

The business of bidding for a top five spot in the Premier League goes on hold on Saturday when the focus switches to the FA Cup quarter final visit of Wigan.

But Coleman insists nobody in the Toffees dressing room has given up on qualifying for Europe via the league just yet.

"We'd eased off in the last few weeks which has been disappointing but we've got some home games coming up now and I think two wins on the bounce can be a massive help in the league," said the former Sligo Rovers right-back.

"We won't give up fighting. We know it's going to be difficult put we'll keep plugging away until the end and if we can start seeing out games then you never know."

West Ham have joined Aston Villa and Everton in scouting Heerenveen striker Alfred Finnbogason.

The 24-year-old Iceland international has scored 19 goals in 22 games for the Dutch side this season.

Finnbogason joined from Helsingborgs in Sweden in the summer and has previously played for Lokeren in Belgium.

The Hammers have Marouane Chamakh and Andy Carroll respectively on loan from Arsenal and Liverpool, but it remains to be seen if either deal is to be made permanent, while the budgets of Villa and Everton are also rather restrictive.

Phil Jagielka is set to miss England's World Cup qualifiers this month due to the severity of the ankle injury he suffered against Reading.

To stand any chance of being in Roy Hodgson's squad for the games against Montenegro and San Marino, he would have to be involved in the Barclays Premier League clash against Manchester City on March 16 but the Everton defender is facing three weeks on the sidelines.

Hodgson names his squad for the crucial double header on Thursday week but Jagielka, whose last cap came against Poland on October 17, is almost certain to be absent as he convalesces from the bad gash which forced him off in the early stages of Everton's 3-1 win at the weekend.

Jagielka, 30, needed to go to hospital on Saturday night to have minor surgery and multiple stitches inserted into the wound he sustained following a reckless challenge by Reading's Adam Le Fondre that enraged Everton manager David Moyes.

It was initially feared the injury might bring a premature end to Jagielka's season but, as there was no bone or ligament damage, he is now expected to target Stoke City's trip to Goodison Park on March 30 as a suitable point to return.

Darron Gibson, meanwhile, is hopeful he will not need an operation to cure the thigh problem that Moyes believes has been limiting his performances. The Republic of Ireland midfielder has calcification at the top of his thigh but he hopes surgery will be avoided.

'Fingers crossed it won't need an operation,' said Gibson. 'I'm just managing it at the moment. I'm happy enough. I'm comfortable playing.'

Phil Jagielka is set to miss England's World Cup double header against San Marino and Montenegro.

Jagielka, 30, has had surgery on the badly-gashed ankle he suffered during Everton's win over Reading on Saturday and is unlikely to recover in time for the games at the end of the month.

Roy Hodgson's side play San Marino away on March 22 before facing Montenegro three days later.

The centre-half is gutted by his injury, sustained in a ­challenge with Adam Le Fondre, and has not missed a single league game all season for Everton.

David Moyes was unhappy with Le Fondre's tackle and the Royals striker apologised after the game to Jagielka, claiming it was accidental.

Jagielka will also miss ­Everton's FA Cup quarter-final at home to Wigan on Saturday and their important league clash with Manchester City at Goodison Park the following Saturday.